VP, Partnerships

Rakuten•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Rakuten International is a division of Rakuten Group, Inc., a Japanese global technology leader in services that empower individuals, communities, businesses and society. Headquartered in San Mateo, California with more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the Rakuten International business portfolio includes market leaders in e-commerce, digital marketing, advertising, communications and entertainment. We create products and services that provide exceptional value by aligning members and the businesses that want to engage them in a shared community. About Rakuten Rewards Rakuten is a leading shopping platform that offers Cash Back on purchases from all your favorite brands. By partnering with thousands of brands in apparel, beauty and wellness, dining, grocery, travel, on-demand services, subscription boxes and more, Rakuten helps members save and get more on everyday purchases. Since its founding in 1999, Rakuten has become the largest and most rewarding shopping experience, and its members have earned $4.6 billion in Cash Back just for shopping through Rakuten. For more information, visit Rakuten.com. This position may be hirable within other US locations. Job Summary : As Vice President of Partnerships , you will deliver growth by sourcing , structuring , and scaling high-impact partnerships with Fortune 500 and other strategically aligned companies across multiple verticals . You will leverage your corporate development expertise and proven track record in complex deal-making to deliver partnerships that drive significant new customer acquisition , revenue growth , and business innovation . This is a highly visible leadership role with the opportunity to shape Rakuten’s partner ecosystem and deliver measurable business results . This role reports to the CMO, Rakuten Rewards .

Requirements

R elevant experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or corporate development at a technology, e-commerce , fintech, or loyalty company
Demonstrated success sourcing, structuring, and scaling revenue generating partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and other major brands
Deep expertise and experience negotiating and closing complex, multi-faceted deals across a range of verticals and partnership types
Strong network and negotiation skills in retail, travel, financial services, or performance marketing sectors.
Experience working cross-functionally with product, legal, marketing, sales and data teams
Analytical mindset with a strong grasp of partner economics, LTV, and performance metrics
Excellent communication and relationship - building skills, especially with C-level stakeholders
Leadership experience in building and developing high - performing teams
12+ years of relevant work experience r equired
Bachelor's Degree

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree

Responsibilities

Define and execute Rakuten’s strategic partnerships roadmap across core and emerging verticals, including retail, travel, financial, lifestyle, technology, grocery, etc.
Lead cross-functional alignment around partnership goals, including GMV, new customer acquisition, co-marketing, customer expansion and retention, and product integration.
Influence product and marketing strategies with insights from the partnership ecosystem
Identify , evaluate , and close high - impact deals with Fortune 500 companies and other key partners that align with Rakuten’s customer base
Lead all aspects of the deal lifecycle-from sourcing and pitch through negotiation, contracting and onboarding
Create innovative value exchange models, including loyalty integrations, data sharing, co-branded programs, media swaps, card linking, platform integrations, and cultural moments
Ensure Rakuten has effective partnerships across the different stages of the customer journey
Drive incremental GMV, new customer acquisition , existing customer expansion, and improved customer acquisition cost (CAC) through ongoing partner performance management.
Collaborate with marketing, sales, and product teams to develop partner campaigns and user experiences that drive results
Prepare executive-level reporting with key KPIs, OKRs, and business initiatives, adapting strategy as needed.
Build and lead a high-performing team of business development and partner marketing professionals
Foster a culture of ownership, creativity, and data-informed decision making
Represent Rakuten at industry events and in senior-level partner conversations